A Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring Algorithm Based on Fourier Transform and Harmonics Identification

The widespread diffusion of renewable energy systems due to their positive impact in the reduction of carbon emissions is pushing the energy sector in finding new ways to improve the integration of these systems. Renewable energy communities are a test-bed for the adoption of techniques and algorithms able to locally balance energy production and consumption in real time at micro-scale. Non-intrusive Load Monitoring is a critical technology for monitoring energy consumption in households and buildings without deploying an individual meter for each appliance. This paper presents an algorithm for Non-intrusive Load Monitoring based on Fourier Transform and harmonics identification. The algorithm leverages frequency domain analysis to detect and classify the power consumption patterns of individual appliances. By identifying the unique harmonic signatures of appliances, the proposed method aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of Non-intrusive Load Monitoring systems. This paper discusses the methodology, implementation, and evaluation of the algorithm, highlighting its strengths and limitations.